Iran Plans on Destroying Tomb of King Cyrus, Friend of the Jews

Arutz Sheva ^ | January 13, 2008 | Ezra HaLevi

[West Coast Conservative]

Iran is planning on submerging the tomb of King Cyrus (Coresh), the Persian King known for authorizing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Holy Temple.

According to a report by Omedia, an Iranian organization is demanding that the International Criminal Court take action against those responsible.

The Iranian ayatollahs are planning on destroying the tomb as part of a general campaign to sever the Persian people from their non-Islamic heritage; Cyrus was thought to be a Zoroastrian and was one of the first rulers to enforce a policy of religious tolerance on his huge kingdom. Journalist Ran Porat quoted a young Iranian who said that the measures being taken by the Islamic Republic’s regime include the destruction of archaeological sites significant to this heritage.

“The government is in the final stages of constructing a dam in southern Iran that will submerge the archaeological sites of Pasargad and Persopolis – the ancient capital of the Persian Empire,” the report states. “The site, which is considered exceptional in terms of its archaeological wealth and historical importance, houses the tomb of the Persian King Cyrus.”

Cyrus, who lived from 576-530 BCE, liberated Babylonian Jewry from their exile in the famous Declaration of Cyrus (mentioned in the book of Ezra in both Hebrew and Aramaic).

A group of Iranian academics opposed to the regime’s policies founded a group called the Pasargad Heritage Foundation with hopes of getting the United Nations involved in protecting the historical site. Most recently, the foundation filed a petition with the International Criminal Court against the Iranian official in charge of maintaining the sites, charging him and his bureau with "crimes against humanity, due to the systematic state-sanctioned destruction of the culture of the ancient Iranian world and its historical heritage."

Though the city of Pasargad is a ruin, Cyrus’s Tomb has remained largely intact and it has been partially restored to counter its natural deterioration over the years.

Cyrus was praised in the Tanach (Isaiah 45:1-6), though he was also criticized for believing the false report of the Cuthites, who wanted to halt the building of the Second Temple. They accused the Jews of conspiring to rebel, so Cyrus in turn stopped the construction of the temple, which would not be completed until 516 BCE, during the reign of Darius the Great, the grandson of Queen Esther.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"The religion that destroys everything. I am surprised they have not destroyed the birthplace of Christ."

Well, take a visit to Cyprus sometime and see what the invading Turks (who are still occupying half the island after 32 years) have done to priceless Christian shrines, churches and relics there. This is a site of Paul's evangelism; the governor of Cyprus was the first leader to convert to Christianity. This beautiful and friendly place is littered with astonishing old churches from the very dawn of Christianity... and the Turks use them for stables and target practice. I kid you not.

This is the same Turkey that the EU is considering for membership. But, Cyprus is already a member. 32 years of violent armed occupation, and the EU has nothing to say about it. Nor does the UN, or the mainstream media. Yet George Bush is Hitler incarnate for liberating more muslims from dictatorial tyranny than any man in history. Go figure.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"Well Christ is in the Koran."

Jesus (Issa) is, but not as Christ.

[Grizzled Bear]

I am surprised they have not destroyed the birthplace of Christ.

---

They desecrated it, urinated in it, smeared feces around it and burned/destroyed ancient scrolls within it. Does that come close?

[zot]

Thanks for the ping.

This shows, again, that Islamists are fervently devoted to causing hardship, death and destruction.

[Reily]

True !
BUT he is called the Messiah, which in Messianic terms is the same as Christ! There was a German religious scholar who claims that the Koran is a mish-mash of Christan, Gnostic Christian liturgical works that should be read in Aramaic not Arabic. In fact if you read it in Aramaic most the Korans literary problems which some include strange nonsensical Arabic sentence structure & word meaning goes away. Of course Muslim's have traditionally interpreted the "nonsense" as something mystical. For example the 72 virgins becomes 72 bunches of white grapes. (I wish this guys book would be published here in the USA!)

[rbosque]

That’s a lot a “hate”. Where are the wacky anti-hate groups?

[nicollo]

Come on. The Persians were practical people. They tolerated religions in order to better conquer them. Cyrus would honor local gods, secure allegiance to his empire, then move on.

The modern muzzies haven’t a clue how to run an empire.

[sheik yerbouty]

A savage bunch of buttlifting swine!

[sheik yerbouty]

The Taliban were filthy diapers on their heads; the ayatollahs wear space saver spare tires in their misbegotten heads!

[Convert from ECUSA]

"How does a nice mosque on all of bethlehem sound to you?"

GAG! Those serpents will probably try to do it, too! And the liberal mainline denominations and the World Council of Chuckleheads (alias World Council of Churches) will probably think its just all hunky-dorey when the serpent try it.

[Dustbunny]

Of course they will destroy it. Muslims like Democrats like to change history by rewriting it and what better way than to destroy it.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]

----------------------------

[G8 Diplomat]

Sad news. The Iranian regime wants to purge the country of its pre-Islamic history. Cyrus was a great leader, so of course the Islamists hate him.

[Ancesthntr]

This king is such a hero in pre-Islamic Persian culture that his name is a common one for boys. Will they all have to change their names now?

You mean that they haven't already been killed as unbelievers?

[Ancesthntr]

The modern muzzies haven’t a clue how to run an empire.

Evidence of G-d's mercy toward the rest of the world.

[tlj18]

One of the greatest losses in human history.